An unusual financial claim dating back to the British colonial period has emerged in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district, where a local family says the British administration owes them money borrowed more than a century ago. The family of late businessman Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia reportedly alleges that he lent Rs 35,000 to colonial authorities in 1917, during the height of the First World War, when the British government was raising funds to support its war effort.
Seth Jumma Lal Ruthia was a well-known cloth and grain trader in Sehore under British rule. At the time, colonial officials were facing significant wartime financial pressure and were actively seeking funds from Indian traders and citizens.
Family members claim Ruthia provided Rs 35,000 as a loan and received written documentation acknowledging the debt and assuring repayment. The matter, however, reportedly faded from attention after his death in 1937 and later India’s Independence in 1947.
The claim resurfaced recently when Seth Jumma Lal’s grandson, Vivek Ruthia, reviewed old family papers and a will. The documents had been safeguarded by Ruthia’s son, Seth Manak Chand Ruthia, until his death in 2013, after which they were passed down to Vivek.
Vivek Ruthia told News18 Hindi that the papers remained in family custody for decades but were only recently examined closely, prompting the family to pursue the matter.
The family is now considering sending a legal notice to the British government, arguing that the amount, Rs 35,000 in 1917, would translate into a vastly larger sum today once inflation and interest are accounted for.
“This is not just about money, but about justice and history,” Vivek Ruthia reportedly said. He added that the family is exploring legal options, including approaching international legal forums such as those in The Hague, though proving the authenticity and enforceability of century-old financial documents could present major legal challenges.
During World War I, the colonial government launched schemes known as Indian War Loans in 1917 and 1918 to finance military operations. These debt instruments, similar to war bonds, encouraged Indian citizens and businesses to lend money in exchange for fixed interest returns. According to the Imperial War Museums, more than £70 million was raised from India through such initiatives.
Separately, Britain continued servicing and eventually redeeming some historic war debts. As reported by the The Hindustan Times, the UK Treasury redeemed £1.9 billion worth of 3.5% War Loan bonds in March 2015, formally closing one of its longest-running wartime debt instruments. However, there is no publicly verified record confirming repayment of any specific private loan made by individuals in colonial India.
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